"I have had people walk out on me before, but not... when I was being so charming." Deckard
☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece
Blade Runner (1982) is a visionary neo-noir, Sci-Fi visual masterpiece.
Directed by Ridley Scott from Philip K. Dick's novel, Do Android's Dream of Electric Sheep?
Starring Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos and Daryl Hannah among many others.
I recently watched the director's cut of Blade Runner and was struck by how visually stunning it still is 30 years after it was made. Production designer Lawrence G. Paull, Art director David Snyder and Special Effects Supervisor David Dryer used Fritz Lang's, Metropolis (1927) as their blue print for the futuristic urban landscape. Ridley has said this is his favorite version of the film. Apparently, the financiers took creative control of the film when it went over its $21 million budget. Harrison said he detested having to do the narrative voice over imposed on him by the financial backers who took creative control of the film while it was being edited.
What struck me most about the Scott's film is that the ending was left ambiguous in regards to Harrison's character and the paranoia that runs throughout the film. This allowed me as a viewer to come up with my own conclusions on Ford's character and see the film from my own present perspective. Ridley's film captured the present political and institutional state we live in. Corporations and police have created a state where they monitor us electronically 24 hours a day to profit and protect us.
Harrison gives one of his best performances of his career by keeping it low key. No bravura, action hero, adrenaline infused physicality, just good old style gum shoe detective police work. Sean is a joy to watch. Young has this ethereal quality that makes her seem almost like a machine. Rutger steals every scene he is in. Hauer seems to be having the time of his life in this role. His energy invigorates every moment on screen. I was rooting for him to win.
The power in the scene below comes from the soft reflection and irony in Rutgers performance and the honest listening and contemplative reaction from Harrison. When two actors are really listening to each other they will like dance partners create perfect timing by reacting off each other. Acting is very similar to dancing in that both actors and dancers have to silently communicate with each other throughout the moments they share on stage.
Trivia - Joanna Cassidy used her real pet Burmese Python snake named Darling. Joanna said it made her feel comfortable when Darling was around her neck.
